Hydrogen Peroxide is Earth Clinic's most popular home remedy for ear wax removal with dozens of our readers reporting success with this natural treatment! One could hardly find a cheaper remedy to get rid of excess ear wax than hydrogen peroxide, which generally costs less than a dollar at most drug stores. While this method is simple, it does come with a few side effects to watch out for and some cautions.
How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Wax
Set aside 20 minutes to treat your ears. The easiest way to get the hydrogen peroxide into your ears is to put some 3% hydrogen peroxide into an empty bottle with an eyedropper. Have a few tissues or cotton balls handy. Lay on one side and pour a few drops to a dropperful into your ear. If you do not feel the peroxide go down into your ear, tilt your head around some until you feel it go into your ear. Often you have to raise your chin up higher than your forehead to accomplish this. In less than a minute you will start to hear a bubbling in your ear as the peroxide reacts with the wax in your ear. If you have a large amount of wax in your ear, you may have some pretty vigorous bubbling and an observer may see white bubbles coming out of your ear! You will be ready with your tissues or cotton balls. You can add more peroxide if it seems to have all bubbled out. After 10 minutes, sit up carefully, to avoid dizziness. Have your tissue ready as the excess peroxide drains out of your ear. It may have a yellow tint to it from the ear wax it has broken down. Now get into position to treat the other ear. Repeat the procedure for the other ear.
For some people, a one time treatment will be enough to break down the wax and bring relief. For others, this will need to be repeated daily until the peroxide no longer bubbles in the ear, meaning, there is no more ear wax to break down.
If your ear wax is impacted, you may need to gently irrigate your ear after the hydrogen peroxide treatment. You will need a bulb syringe, found at most pharmacies. Fill it with warm (no warmer than body temperature) and gently squeeze the water into the ear, ideally over a sink. You may see bits or chunks of wax drain out with the water. If you do not have success, continue with the peroxide in your ears for a few more days and try the irrigation again.
Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Wax - Side Effects and Cautions
Using hydrogen peroxide to break down ear wax can cause side effects. It can cause dizziness. If the hydrogen peroxide doesn't drain out of your ear, your hearing may be worse until the peroxide drains out of your ear.
Do not use this treatment if you have surgically placed ear tubes.
Do not use this treatment if you have a ruptured or perforated ear drum.
Do not use 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide for this treatment. You will burn your ear and risk serious damage.
Only use 3% hydrogen peroxide from the pharmacy for this treatment.
Have you tried hydrogen peroxide to remove ear wax from your ears? How did it go? Read on and you will find out how it went for dozens of our readers.
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